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Show Notes
On the eighth episode of Not Cool, Ariel tackles the topic of climate policy from the local level up through the federal. She's joined by Suzanne Jones: public policy veteran, climate activist, and current mayor of Boulder, Colorado. Suzanne explains the climate threats facing communities like Boulder, the measures local governments can take to combat the crisis, and the ways she’d like to see the federal government step up. She also discusses the economic value of going green, the importance of promoting equity in climate solutions, and more.
Topics discussed include:
- Roles for local/state/federal governments
- Surprise costs of climate change
- Equality/equity in climate solutions
- Increasing community engagement
- Nonattainment zones
- Electrification of transportation sector
- Municipalization of electric utility
- Challenges, roadblocks, and what she’d like to see accomplished
- Affordable, sustainable development
- What individuals should be doing
- Carbon farming and sustainable agriculture
References discussed include:
I think everybody at some level cares deeply about the future and recognizes climate change as a real threat to the future that they want. So how do you engage them in that question in a way that's meaningful for where they are in their life stage or for where they are in terms of their immediate needs? But I think everybody does care.
~ Suzanne Jones
